Sunday 1 October 2023:
Autumn is with us, NHS stresses continue and Winter Pressures loom large:
- Consultant Doctors struck on 19-20 September + Junior Doctors on 20–23 September; all Consultants and Junior Doctors will strike together from 2–5 October. These disputes must be settled by immediate negotiations. Surely the estimated £1billion cost of NHS strikes so far to provide cover could have been better spent to settle the Doctors’ dispute?
- Our three local hospitals in Chelmsford, Basildon & Southend have 186,683 people awaiting treatment; 89,500 have waited 18+ weekswith 11,000+ waiting more than a year.
- Industrial action has contributed to the record 7.7m people awaiting treatment now.
- 1.01m hospital appointments and treatments have been cancelled in England due to staff strike action, along with more than 60,000 community and mental health appointments since December 2022 when NHS industrial action began. The doctors’ strikes have been responsible for the majority of the disruption.
- Doctors are providing emergency cover and the awful M53 accident this week is an example of when doctors left the picket lines and went to work.
- NHSEngland continues planning for industrial action throughout Winter 2023, in constant discussions to maintain lifesaving services. We reported public guidance in our article in the Focus Issue 1058, our online lead article of 13 August.
- Patients’ waiting lists grow and lengthen. Gaps in staffing and services are increasing. NHS staff endure ever-more stress and some are leaving.
News about living-with-Covid, future preparedness, and arrangements for 2023/24 Flu & Covid vaccinations were in our report in Focus Issue 1058 of 18 August and online.
As a precautionary measure due to the new BA.2.86 variant, Flu & Covid vaccinations were brought forward and started on 11 September.
SWF GP Practices are running Covid booster and flu vaccination clinics, which are by invitation for appointments so supplies of vaccines are available. Please don’t ask about this unless you’ve received an invitation. PLEASE GET VACCINATED IF YOU’RE ELIGIBLE. IT’S AS NECESSARY AS EVER.
Anyone eligible for a Covid vaccination can book an appointment at Book, cancel or change a COVID-19 vaccination appointment – NHS (www.nhs.uk) or call 119 free of charge.
Adults eligible for free flu vaccinations can also get them from some pharmacies, and some maternity services if pregnant; full details are atFlu vaccine – NHS (www.nhs.uk) .
Children can get flu vaccination as follows: 6months-until start primary school from GPs; children at primary and secondary school at school; full details atChild flu vaccine – NHS (www.nhs.uk) .
Essex Public Health says: “The NHS has links to the ‘Yellow Care Scheme’ on which any individual (not only clinicians) can report adverse effects they think may have come from any vaccination or medicine. The reporting does not have to go through a GP, though naturally anyone with a significant medical issue will want to seek medical advice.”
As students go to Universities and Colleges, around 1 in 8 aren’t protected from Meningitis, a common illness for them. Students are urged to be vaccinated against Meningitis and other diseases. Meningitis can cause long-term disability, serious health complications and takes lives. Read about this at: Around 1 in 8 new students unprotected against meningitis – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) .
Freshers and all students are being urged to use a condom if having sex to protect against record levels of Gonorrhoea and all sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Diagnoses of STIs have soared recently and 15-24-year-olds are most likely to suffer. Students are advised to get a free test before having sex with a new partner. Gonorrhoea cases increased by over 20% to more than 82,500 in 2022, with the largest rise for 19 & 20-year-olds. Among 15-24-year-olds in 2022, 400 STIs were diagnosed every day.
Tuberculosis (TB) cases rose by 7% in the first half of 2023, with 2,408 notifications, so progress towards elimination of TB has stalled. TB is curable and preventable and remains a serious public health issue. The UKHSA news release about this is at Tuberculosis (TB) cases continue to rise in England in 2023 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) .
UKHSA has issued guidance about Brucella Canis – brucellosis which can be transmitted from dogs to humans. It is mainly found in dogs imported from Eastern Europe so dog breeders and owners of imported dogs may be at higher risk. The guidance is at Brucella canis: information for the public and dog owners – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) .
UKHSA’s 26 September Childhood Immunisation data and commentary shows the continuing downward trend for uptake of routine childhood vaccinations. This is a very serious concern. Parents are urged to ensure their children are fully up to date with their immunisations by checking their child’s red book and contacting their GP if are unsure. This is at Cover of vaccination evaluated rapidly (COVER) programme 2023 to 2024: quarterly data – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) . Public health news items are on our website and in weekly e-newsletters. SWF Library provides online services and help with internet access. For welfare information and subscription to our newsletter contact uson swfhealthsocial@outlook.com , or leave voicemails on 01245 322079 https://swfhealthsocial.co.uk/
SWF Health & Social Care Group 